Guides
How to lock a browser with Face ID on iPhone
To lock Safari's private tabs with Face ID, open Settings, then Apps, then Safari, and turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing. To lock a whole browser app, touch and hold its icon and choose Require Face ID. Both locks also open with your iPhone passcode. For a lock that your iPhone passcode cannot open, use a browser with its own passcode, such as Blank.
Download Blank free1. Lock Safari's private tabs
- Open Settings, then Apps, then Safari. On iOS 17, open Settings, then Safari.
- Turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing.
Private tabs now lock when you leave Safari. Only private tabs lock: your regular tabs, history, bookmarks, and downloads stay open. The lock also accepts your iPhone passcode.
2. Lock any browser with the iOS app lock
- On the Home Screen, touch and hold the browser's icon.
- Tap Require Face ID, then confirm.
This works for most apps on iOS 18 and later. Some apps also offer Hide and Require Face ID, which moves the app into a hidden folder in the App Library. The lock opens with Face ID or your iPhone passcode.
3. Use a browser with its own passcode
The first two ways stop someone who does not know your iPhone passcode. Someone who knows it opens the lock the same way you do. Blank has its own passcode, separate from your iPhone passcode:
- Face ID or Touch ID opens it, and its own passcode is always the backup.
- If a new face is added to Face ID, Blank asks for its own passcode again.
- The lock covers everything: tabs, history, saved videos, passwords, and AI chats.
- The app switcher shows a blank screen instead of your last page.
The three side by side
| Safari private tabs | iOS app lock | Blank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What locks | Private tabs | The whole app | The whole app |
| Opens with your iPhone passcode | Yes | Yes | No, Blank has its own passcode |
| Where saved videos go | Photos or Files | Wherever that app keeps them | Blank's encrypted vault |
| Needs | iOS 17 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
Read more about Blank's passcode lock.
Questions
Can I lock Safari with Face ID?
Yes, in two ways: lock its private tabs in Settings, or lock the whole app from its Home Screen icon on iOS 18. Both also open with your iPhone passcode.
Can I lock Safari with a passcode different from my iPhone's?
No. Safari's locks use Face ID and your iPhone passcode. For a separate passcode, use a browser that has its own, such as Blank.